Portable fencing



Jan. 8, 1963 e. JOHNSON PORTABLE FENCING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23,1961 IN VEN TOR.

GRADY JOHNSON ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1963 G. JOHNSON 3,072,385

PORTABLE FENCING Filed Jan. 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-1O 67 uvmvrox.

GRADY JOHNSON 77 ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()1 This inventionrelates to fencing constructions which are self-supporting, independentof the ground or other surface upon which they rest, and which thereforecan be placed in any location where an enclosure is desired.

Conventional fencing constructions are generally sup-.

ported through mounting of the fence posts in the ground or othersurface over which the fencing is erected, or in some cases by attachingthe fencing fabric and/or the posts to adjacent buildings or similarstructures against which the fencing abuts. In any event, such fencingis erected permanently, and normally becomes a fixture to the land, andany alteration in the fencing itself, or the space which is encloses,requires considerable expense and labor. It is also generally consideredas a part of the real estate, and not personal property, except which itmight be a trade fixture.

There are many instances when a portable self-contained fencing unit isuseful. For example, on farms a portable fencing enclosure can beerected wherever desired to form an enclosed space on the groundproviding a temporary pen for animals, or a temporary enclosure forproduce. The same may be true in the case of temporary pens instockyards or the like. Similarly, in rental housing units, where theoccupant does not have an interest in the real estate, the occupant maydesire to fence in a portion of the land to provide a protected playspace for children, or for other reasons. A portable fencing enclosure,which can be erected and merely set upon the ground will serve suchpurposes Without permanent fixing to the ground. Furthermore, suchfencing enclosures can be constructed, in accordance with thisinvention, as collapsible units which can be disassembled and moved, orstored in a minimum of space.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a novelportable fencing enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence enclosure which isself-contained and does not obtain its structural rigidity from thesurface upon which it rests.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable fencingconstruction including a'collapsible polygonal framework and a strip orstrips of flexible fencing fabric which are Wrapped about the exteriorof such framework and drawn taut about such framework to maintain thestructure in assembled condition.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a portablefencing construction which includes a gate for access to the interior ofthe space enclosed by the'fencing.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel tensioningapparatus for portable fencing constructions including a capstanarrangement which is mounted on the fencing structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIG, 1 is a perspective view of a portable fencing enclosure inaccordance with the invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a broken plan view on an enlarged scale of one of the postsincorporated in such structure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken elevational view, with some parts shown in section,of a tensioning apparatus in the form of a capstan type of constructionwhich is mounted on a corner post of the fencing enclosure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

ice

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and broken sectional view taken on line 66 in FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified form of tensioningapparatus;

FIG. 8 is a broken sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a modified type of portable fencingconstruction incorporating a gate; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the gate usedin the construction shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, which show preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, and referring particularly to FIGS. l-6, the portablefencing construction provided by this invention includes a plurality ofposts 10 of conventional fencing material such as hollow pipe. In thecase of a square or rectangular construction, these may conveniently bereferred to as corner posts, although it should be understood that it iswithin the scope of this invention to provide fencing constructionswhich are circular or oval in configuration. Each post is provided witha plurality of strut connectors, and these are arranged in pairs atdifferent elevations. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 there is an upperpair of connectors 12 and a lower pair 13. As shown in FIG. 3, theconnectors may be in the form of tubular sockets 15 welded or otherwisesecured to the post 10. Of course, these connectors could also be in theform of plugs if desired, i.e., a male connector member rather thanfemale.

The individual connectors in each pair extend in divergent relation toeach other, and preferably extend generally at right angles to thecenter line of the post. The post, therefore, is normally situated in avertical position on the ground or other surface to be enclosed, andstruts 18 are engaged in the connectors and extend from post to post,forming with the posts a framework which defines the area to be enclosedby the fence. In the case of the straight struts the framework will be aponygonal structure in which each side is quadrilateral, preferablyrectangular as shown in FIG. 1. The struts are located near the top andbottom of the posts, and it is not necessary to provide any positivelocking of the struts to the posts other than, for example, the plug andsocket connectors such as shown in FIG. 3, where the struts 18 arereceived in the sockets 15. As mentioned, this relationship can beinverse, with plug-like connectors on the posts and sleeves on thestruts to slip over such plugs. The framework, therefore, is completelyand readily collapsible, and may be disassembled into a number of pieceswhich can be tied together ready for storage or transportation.

The fencing enclosure is completed by a strip of flexible fencing fabric2%), preferably the well known chainlink fencing fabric which consistsof intertwined rather heavy wires which form a metallic fencing materialcapable of being rolled for storage. This fabric is stretched taut aboutthe exterior of the framework, contacting the outside of each post andcontacting the struts along a substantial portion of their length. Thefabric 20 completes the enclosure and also is maintained taut bysuitable tensioning apparatus, thereby holding the entire framework incompression to maintain the enclosure in its assembled condition.

It is of course possible to use more than one strip 20 of fencingfabric, and it is also possible to anchor the ends of the strip to theposts after suitable tension has been applied thereto by conventionalstretching tools. In many instances, however, this is not conducive toquick assembly and disassembly of the structure, and therefore, apreferred embodiment incorporate ones or two relatively long strips offencing fabric which are drawn taut and maintained in tension by a novelcapstan arrangement which is a part of the structure.

below the ends of the post 10. The rod and the two studs thus form agenerally U-shaped mounting member which can rotate about the verticalaxis of the post 10, within the limits formed by the struts when theyare in position. The studs 27 provide a slide mounting for upper andlower sleeves 30 which are free to slide along the studs '27, and whichare fastened to further sleeves 32 (FIG. 6) extending at right angles tothe sleeves 30. A capstan shaft 35 extends through the sleeves 32, andthe shaft is undercut as shown at 36 adjacent its upper and lower edgesto fit around the inwardly extending part of the horizontal sleeves 30,thus forming an interlocking construction which maintains the parts inassembled relationship.

Between the sleeves 32, and around the shaft 35, is a main capstansleeve or tube 38, and a plurality of dowels or pins 40 are insertedthrough the tube 38 and the shaft 35, locking the two together forsimultaneous rotation. The upper end of the top sleeve 32, as shown at42, preferably has a polygonal outer configuration. This may beattained, for example, by forming the sleeve 32 from hex stock to attaina hexagonal upper end at 42. Likewise, the shaft 35 is provided at itsupper end with an enlarged head of similar polygonal configuration, andthis may also be attained by forming the shaft from hex stock which isturned down along its length to the circular cross-section which fitsinside the tube 38 and the sleeves 32. Over the parts 42 and 45 there isa locking socket or sleeve which may be formed from a suitable so-calledtwelve point socket sleeve, for example of the kind normally found insocket wrenches, and capable of engaging the hexagonal heads in twelvedifferent positions. This sleeve 50 can slide up on the head 45 until itengages the stop 51, and in the dotted line position (FIG. 6) thelocking sleeve 50 is free from engagement with the end 42 on sleeve 32,permitting rotation of the capstan shaft, while in its lower or lockingposition, resting against the stop 52, the sleeve 50 extends across themeeting faces of the parts 42 and 45, and locks the two togetherpreventing rotation of shaft 35.

The fabric strip 20 can be engaged with the pins 40 on the capstanmerely by hooking these pins through the fabric, and the fabric can thenbe placed about the exterior of the framework and brought back aroundthe corner posts in which the capstan is mounted such that the other endof the fabric also may be engaged with the pins 40. This arrangement isshown in FIG. 5, and it will be understood that with such a constructionthere is no access through the sides of the fencing, but the interior ofthe enclosure may be reached by climbing over a side of the structure.

A suitable wrench or lever arm is then applied to the sleeve 50, withthe sleeve in its raised position (dotted lines in FIG 6) and thecapstan can be rotated to draw the fabric taut about the framework. Thesleeve 50 is then dropped to engage also with the polygonal end 42 onthe upper sleeve 32, and the capstan is locked to maintain the tensionin the fencing fabric. When it is desired to disassemble the structure,the sleeve 50 can be released to relieve the tension, then one end ofthe fabric strip is unhooked from the capstan, and the same is rotatedto wind the fabric into a roll about the capstan tube. At this time, thesleeves 30 will slide toward the outer end of the studs 27 as the rollof fabric increases in diameter. Once all the fabric is rolled up on thecapstan the framework can be easily disassembled, and the capstanprovides a convenient carrier for the roll of fabric, being retained onthe corner post 10 to which it is assembled.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternate capstan construction which is usableparticularly where it is for some reason undesirable to mount thecapstan on a corner post. In this modified construction a pair ofsleeves are provided which fit over the struts 18 of the framework. Eachof these sleeves has an L-shaped arm 62 fastened thereto, and these armsin turn provide support for the sliding capstan sleeves 30a, whichtogether with the remainder of the capstan construction may be exactlythe same as that previously described. Therefore, the same referencenumerals have been applied to these parts in FIGS. 7 and 8. As thefencing fabric is rolled onto the capstan tube 38, the sleeves 30a willslide outwardly 0n the arms 62 to accommodate the increase in size ofthe roll.

In some instances it may be desirable to incorporate a gate constructionin the collapsible portable fencing provided by this invention. Asuitable arrangement for this purpose is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thegate construction is provided here as a substitute for one of the cornerposts, and the struts extending to such gate construction may beshortened accordingly if desired. Of course, the gate can be includedanywhere in the framework, as convenient.

The gate includes a rectangular framework made up of side pieces 65 andU-shaped top and bottom pieces 67 which connect into the side pieces asshown generally by the dotted plug arrangement 68 in FIG. 10. The gateframe can be fabricated as a unitary assemblage if desired. The sidepieces 65 each are provided with a plurality of pegs or pins 70, andthese pins provide anchorage for two strips of fencing fabric which areengaged with the opposite gate pieces 65 respectively, and which arewrapped about the exterior of the framework and connected to the sametype of capstan construction as previously described, designated by thegeneral reference numeral 72 in FIG. 9. A conventional gate 75,including a frame 76 which is hinged at 77 to one of the gate framepieces 65 is provided and preferably covered with a piece of similarfencing fabric fastened permanently to the gate frame 76. Anyconventional gate lock construction, indicated generally at 78, may beused to hold the gate closed.

Obviously, the fencing construction shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may likewisebe disassembled readily and the gate frame itself disassembled intopieces, with only the gate remaining connected at its hinges 77 to theone gate frame side piece 65 if so desired.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable fencing enclosure comprising a plurality of corner posts,struts extending between said corner posts forming a polygonal frameworkin which each side is a collapsible quadrilateral structure and havingsubstantial strength in compression, at least one length of flexiblefencing fabric wrapped about the exterior sides of said framework,tensioning means mounted on said framework and connected to said lengthof fencing fabric, and means operable on said tensioning means to drawsaid fabric taut about said framework.

2. A portable fencing enclosure comprising a plurality of corner posts,struts extending between said corner posts forming a rectangularframework in which each side is a collapsible quadrilateral structurehaving substantial strength in compression, flexible fencing fabricfastened to said framework and wrapped about the entire exterior sidesof said framework, tensioning means connected between the other end ofsaid length of fencing fabric and said framework, and means operable onsaid tensioning means to draw said fabric taut about said framework.

3. A portable fencing enclosure, comprising a plurality of corner postseach having spaced laterally extending connectors on two sides thereof,struts engaged with said connectors and extending between said posts toform therewith a self-supporting polygonal framework having a pluralityof side frames joined at said posts, an elongated strip of flexiblefencing fabric wrapped about the exterior sides of said framework andresting against substantially the full extent of said struts to form anenclosure closed on all sides, and tensioning apparatus connectedbetween the ends of said fabric strip and operative to draw said fabricstrip taut about said framework maintaining the resultant fencingenclosure in assembled condition.

4. A portable collapsible fencing enclosure adapted to rest upon asurface and to define a space on said surface closed on all sides,comprising a plurality of posts each having pairs of strut engagingconnectors extending laterally therefrom, said pairs of connectors beingat separate locations along the length of said posts and each connectorof a pair extending at a substantial angle with respect to the otherconnector of that pair, struts adapted to engage with said connectorsand to extend generally horizontally between the posts with the postsarranged generally vertically forming a self-supporting space enclosingframework, an elongated strip of flexible fencing fabric, said stripbeing wrapped about the sides of said framework and connected at one endto said framework, and tensioning apparatus connected between the otherend of said fabric strip and said framework and operative to draw saidstrip tau-t about the sides of said framework.

5. A portable collapsible fencing enclosure adapted to rest upon asurface and to define a space on said surface closed on all sides,comprising a plurality of posts each having pairs of strut engagingconnectors extending laterally therefrom, said pairs of connectors beingat separate locations along the length of said posts and each connectorof a pair extending at a substantial angle with respect to the otherconnector of that pair, struts adapted to engage with said connectorsand to extend generally horizontally between the posts with the postsarranged generally vertically forming a space enclosing framework, anelongated strip of flexible fencing fabric, said strip being wrappedabout the sides of said framework and connected atone end to saidframework, and a capstan mounted on said framework and connected to saidfabric strip and operative to draw said strip taut about said framework.

6. A portable collapsible fencing enclosure adapted to rest upon asurface and to define a space on said surface closed on all sides,comprising a plurality of posts having connectors thereon for engagementwith framework struts at at least two different locations lengthwise ofthe post and the connectors at each location extending in divergentdirections, struts engaged with said connectors and extending generallyhorizontally between the posts with the posts arranged generallyvertically forming a space enclosing self-supporting framework adaptedto rest upon a surface without direct connection thereto, an elongatedstrip of linked wire flexible fencing fabric, said strip being wrappedhorizontally about said framework covering the sides thereof, andtensioning apparatus mounted on said framework including a rotatablecapstan connected to apply tensioning force to said strip for stretchingsaid strip about said framework forming a self-supporting enclosure.

7. A portable fencing enclosure comprising a plurality of corner posts,at least two struts extending between said corner posts forming aframework in which each side is a collapsible structure havingsubstantial strength in compression, a gate frame formed in saidframework including sides connected to pairs of said struts, a gatemember mounted in said gate frame, flexible fencing fabric fastened tothe exterior sides of said framework and extending entirely about theexterior sides of said framework from one side of said gate frame to theopposite side of said gate frame providing an enclosure to which accessis provided by said gate member, tensioning means connected between saidfabric and said framework, and means operable on said tensioning meansto draw said fabric taut about said framework maintaining said frameworkas a self-supporting structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS415,382 Darnell Nov. 19, 1889 2,475,416 Williams July 5, 1949 2,690,326Kranick Sept. 28, 1954 2,760,760 Pitz -Aug. 28, 1956

1. A PORTABLE FENCING ENCLOSURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CORNER POSTS,STRUTS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CORNER POSTS FORMING A POLYGONAL FRAMEWORKIN WHICH EACH SIDE IS A COLLAPSIBLE QUADRILATERAL STRUCTURE AND HAVINGSUBSTANTIAL STRENGTH IN COMPRESSION, AT LEAST ONE LENGTH OF FLEXIBLEFENCING FABRIC WRAPPED ABOUT THE EXTERIOR SIDES OF SAID FRAMEWORK,TENSIONING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAMEWORK AND CONNECTED TO SAID LENGTHOF FENCING FABRIC, AND MEANS OPERABLE ON SAID TENSIONING MEANS TO DRAWSAID FABRIC TAUT ABOUT SAID FRAMEWORK.